Device, controller, method and signal for remote control

ABSTRACT

Remotely controlling a device still has several inconveniences associated with it, like the plurality of dedicated controllers, the hassle of learning or programming a remote controller, a preprogrammed memory bank which is outdated, the distribution and sharing of programs, or separate efforts to design the receiver of the device and the transmitter of the controller. To solve these inconveniences, the device is equipped with transmitting means for transmission of its properties that explicitly define how the device can be remotely controlled. The remote controller is equipped with receiving means for the properties and subsequently uses the properties for remotely controlling the device, by generating and transmitting signals in accordance with the properties.

The invention relates to a device being remotely controllable by meansof a signal, the device having a property which defines at leastpartially how the device is remotely controllable.

The invention also relates to a controller for remotely controlling adevice by generating a signal and transmitting the signal to the device.

The invention also relates to a system comprising a device beingremotely controllable by means of a signal, and a controller forremotely controlling the device by generating and transmitting thesignal.

The invention also relates to a method of remotely controlling a deviceby means of a signal.

The invention also relates to a signal for transmitting a property of aremotely controllable device.

The invention also relates to a signal for initiating a transmission ofa property of a remotely controllable device.

An embodiment of the device described in the opening paragraph is knownfrom U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,316, which discloses a device that can becontrolled from a remote controller, as discussed further below.

Remotely controllable devices and their respective controllers areubiquitous nowadays. Such devices are usually each shipped and sold witha dedicated controller for the brand and model of that particulardevice. One drawback is that operating several of these devices involvesoperating many controllers. Another drawback is that, as describedbelow, a device may be controlled from a so-called universal remotecontroller, leaving the dedicated controller unused, thus wastingresources and incurring unnecessary costs.

The well-known learnable remote controllers alleviate this hassle,because they are able to receive, store and retransmit the signalstransmitted by dedicated controllers. A single learnable remotecontroller can transmit the signals of a number of dedicatedcontrollers, serving as a single replacement for the latter. A drawbackof the learnable remote controller is, however, that ‘teaching’ it is arather cumbersome process in itself. It requires putting the dedicatedcontroller vis à vis the learnable controller and pushing severalbuttons for each stored signal, explicitly programming each desiredfunction of the learnable controller.

The equally well-known universal remote controllers alleviate the hassleof programming the learnable controller by carrying a preprogrammedmemory bank containing signals for many devices. By entering an indexnumber that is associated with the brand and model of the device, theuniversal controller is programmed for the device (see U.S. Pat. No.5,872,562). Another approach is to derive the brand and the model of thedevice by capturing a signal from the dedicated controller (WO98/00933).The universal remote controller has the drawback that a fixed memorybank is of no use for later devices that were not anticipated when thecontroller was made.

The method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,316 also involves auniversal remote controller with a fixed memory bank. Rather thanlooking up and entering the index number, it is described how thedevice, at first-time use, powers up in a special mode, periodicallytransmitting the index number to be received by a universal remotecontroller. Upon reception of the index number, the controller commandsthe device to stop transmitting and it programs itself as a dedicatedcontroller for the device by looking up the index number in its memorybank. One drawback of this approach is the risk that the fixed memorybank is out-of-date with the device. Another drawback is the partiallyduplicate efforts required to maintain the memory bank and developdevices.

Another known improvement of the universal remote controller entailsuploading and downloading its program or parts thereof from the Internet(WO01/39150A3). This allows the exchange of (parts of) programs thataddress also the devices of the latest brand and model. One drawback ofthis is the cumbersome creation and distribution of the exchangedprograms.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and aremote controller of the kind described in the opening paragraphs, whichalleviate at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

To this end, one aspect of the invention provides a device that ischaracterized in that it comprises:

-   -   transmitting means for transmitting the property to a remote        controller for generating the signal in dependence on the        property; and    -   receiving means for receiving the signal.

By enabling the device to transmit explicit properties on how it can beremotely controlled, the device becomes the authoritative source of thisinformation. In effect, the device itself is now capable of“programming” the remote controller. This ensures that the informationis up-to-date with the device. Since the device carries the informationon how to control it, the device may be shipped and sold withoutdedicated controller, presuming the end-user already has a remotecontroller according to the invention. Also in the case of a lost ordefective dedicated controller, the device may still be remotelycontrolled from a universal remote controller by transmitting itsproperties. Finally, there is neither a need for the maintenance nor forthe distribution of memory banks or (parts of) programs.

In an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the propertyat least partially defines the signal. By transmitting an explicitproperty of the signal, the device simplifies generating the signal bythe remote controller.

In an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the devicecomprises processing means for processing the received signal independence on a code, and the property at least partially defines thecode. The remote controller can subsequently generate the signal inaccordance with the code and can avoid transmitting an unsupported codedsignal.

In an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device isremotely controllable by means of a further signal and is arranged totransmit the property in response to receiving the further signal. Thisenables the remote controller to interrogate the device for itscharacteristics.

Another aspect of the invention provides a controller that ischaracterized in that it comprises receiving means for receiving aproperty of the device transmitted by the device, the property at leastpartially defining how the device is remotely controllable, and thecontroller being arranged to generate the signal in dependence on thereceived property.

In an embodiment of the controller according to the invention, thecontroller is arranged to generate and transmit a further signal forcommanding the device to transmit the property. This enables the remotecontroller to interrogate the device for its characteristics. It alsosimplifies “programming” a single remote controller for multipledevices.

In an embodiment of the controller according to the invention,

-   -   the controller has a control for remotely controlling the        remotely controllable device;    -   the signal is generated and transmitted in response to        activating the control;    -   the controller comprises a display screen for displaying the        control; and    -   the property at least partially defines the control. This        enables the device to influence how its functions and        capabilities are rendered on the remote controller.

The above objects and features of the present invention will be moreapparent from the following description of preferred embodiments withreference to the drawing wherein

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a system according tothe invention.

Some of the features indicated in the drawing may be implemented insoftware, and as such represent software entities, such as softwaremodules or objects.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a system 100 accordingto the invention, comprising a remote controller 110 and a remotelycontrollable device 120.

The device 120 is typically an audio and/or video device such as atelevision, set-top box or audio set. It may be suited for the receptionof audio and/or video signals broadcast via a medium like the air,cable, or the Internet. The device 120 may be suited for thereproduction of audio and/or video from storage media like tape, memory,CD, DVD and the like.

Alternatively, the device 120 may be a more exotic device as applied inambient intelligence like a thermostat, a light-generating device,curtains or a sun screen and the like.

The device 120 is controllable by means of a signal 130 that isgenerated and transmitted by the controller 110. The signal 130 may be asound signal (for example, at ultrasonic frequencies) or anelectromagnetic signal, including radio signals, (invisible or visible)light signals, and, for example, an infrared signal. A medium like air,fiber, cables and the like can carry the signal 130. The device 120comprises receiving means 122 that are able to receive the signal 130.The device 120 has certain remotely controllable capabilities (notshown). These capabilities include those typically found in audiodevices and video devices, like reproducing audio and/or video fromreceived broadcasts or from a storage medium. Typical remotelycontrollable capabilities or functions include, for example, play, fastforward/reverse, pause, volume up/down, channel up/down. The device isremotely controllable in the sense that, upon reception of the signal130, the device activates the capability or function that is associatedwith that particular signal 130.

The device 120 comprises transmitting means 121 for transmitting aproperty 140 of the device 120. The property (at least partially)defines how the device 120 is remotely controllable. The property 140 isreceived by receiving means 111 of the controller 110 and issubsequently used for generating the signal 130. This may compriseseveral processing steps, like demodulation, decoding, correctingerrors, parsing and storing the property in a memory (not shown) of theremote controller 110. Generation of the signal may also comprise stepslike generating a carrier frequency, modulating, mixing, encoding,translating and synthesizing in general. The whole procedure effectivelyprovides the remote controller 110 with the explicit recipe to generatethe signal 130 and optionally a further signal 150.

The device 120 may transmit several properties 140 sequentially, orcombine multiple device properties in a single transmission.

One example of the property 140 is the particularities of the signal130, like its carrier frequency, modulation scheme, or code set. Thesignal 130 may be based on a code and the device 120 may comprise codeprocessing means 123 in that case. The code processing means 123 mayprocess the signal 130 received to obtain a command for the device 120.

Another example of the property 140 is the particularities of theremotely controllable capabilities or functions of the device 120, likethe supported command set or code set, the mapping between a particularcode and the associated function, the supported interface formats, theconfiguration of the device, the implemented device behavior and itssemantics in general.

To allow re-use of components, the transmitting means 121 of the device120 may comprise the same components (not shown) as used in remotecontrollers in general. To further facilitate re-use, the transmittingmeans of the device 120 may utilize the same or substantially similarwavelengths, carrier frequencies, modulation schemes, encoding schemes,command codes and command semantics that are generally used for thesignals transmitted by a remote controller for controlling a device.

In order to make the property 140 independent of the specifics of thereceiving controller 110, the property 140 can be self-describing orexplicit.

For initiating the transmission of the property 140, the device maycomprise a button or a control. The transmission may also be initiatedby selecting a particular capability in the user interface of the device120, for example, by using an On Screen Display (OSD) (not shown) of thedevice 140. Advantageously, the property 140 includes a capability ofthe device 120 that is not normally available from the dedicatedcontroller that ships with the device 120. This may facilitate the rapidmarket penetration of devices 120 and remote controllers 110 accordingto the invention.

To be suited for different remote controllers 110, the properties 140may be transmitted in a self-contained format, for example, based on amarkup language such as XML. In such a format, the semantics of theproperty 140 can be made explicit by including meta-information.

To save on the required bandwidth for the transmission, and to reducethe response time for programming the controller 110, the properties 140may be transmitted in a compressed format.

Advantageously, the particularities of the transmission of the property140 are standardized in such a way that a complying remote controller110 can remotely control any complying device 120 after transfer of itsproperties 140.

Advantageously, the properties 140 of the signal 130 may pertain to itswavelength, carrier frequency, modulation, encoding. After reception andprocessing at the controller 110, these properties 140 can be appliedfor generating the signal 130. This may involve the use of ageneral-purpose processor (not shown) with appropriate software.

The properties 140 of the code may pertain to the control command set,the semantics of the control command, or the supported remote controlstandard (RC-5, RC-6).

To initiate the transmission of the property 140, the remote controller110 can send a further signal 150. The particularities of the furthersignal 150 are advantageously standardized in such a way that acomplying remote controller 110 can initiate the transmission from anycomplying device 120. If standardization fails and multiple distinctfurther signals 150 coexist, the controller 110 may transmit each of thedistinct further signals 150 sequentially, attempting to initiate atransmission from the device.

To prevent misuse of effectively gaining remote control over the device120 by sending the further signal 150 from a second remote controller110 operated by a malicious user, the device may postpone transmissionof properties until a button on the device is pushed. Thus physicalaccess to the device 120 becomes a necessity for gaining control.Another alternative way of preventing misuse is that a uniqueidentification of the remote controller 110 may be comprised in thefurther signal 150. The device 120 may store this identification in itsmemory, and may subsequently refuse further signals 150 transmitted fromother remote controllers 110. The stored identification may only bereleased, for example, with a procedure requiring physical access to thedevice 120. This may ensure that there is at most one remote controller110 using the properties 140 of the device 120.

The particularities of the transmission of the property 140 may bestandardized in such a way that a complying remote controller 110 caneffectively control any complying device 120.

Advantageously, the controller 110 may perform a handshake with thedevice 120 to ensure proper reception of the further signal 150 by thedevice 120. The handshake can be implemented by having the controller110, after transmitting the further signal 150, to wait for the property140 of the device 120, and when the controller 110 fails to receive theproperty 140, having the controller 110 restart the transmission of thefurther signal 150.

In one embodiment of the controller according to the invention, thecontroller 110 comprises a display screen 112. Instead of the commonfixed physical buttons on dedicated remote controllers, the displayscreen 112 may be used for displaying a control 113 that serves as abutton. When the control 113 is activated, the controller 110 thusgenerates and transmits the signal 130 for activating an associatedcapability or function of the device 120.

In another embodiment of the controller according to the invention, thedisplay screen 112 may be a touch screen where tapping on the displayscreen 112, substantially at the position of a displayed control 113,activates this control 113.

The property 140 of the control 113 may comprise the geometry, theshape, the bitmap, the colors, the actions or any other attributes ofthe control 113.

The device 120 may effectively render its remotely controlledcapabilities on the display screen 112 of the controller 110 bytransmitting properties 140 for a plurality of controls 113.

The controller 110 may determine the layout of the controls 113 on thedisplay screen 112, in response to the received properties 140 of thecontrols 113.

Advantageously, the property may comprise a unique address of the device(e.g. a serial number assigned by the manufacturer), thus enabling theremote controller to address signals to that particular device. This isespecially useful if two or more devices share their brand and model. Insuch a case, the remote controller 110 may render the controls 113 foreach of these devices 120 on the display screen 112 simultaneously,while grouping the controls 113 per device 120.

It is noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather thanlimit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able todesign many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope ofthe appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed betweenparentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of theverb “comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence ofelements or steps other than those stated in a claim. Use of theindefinite article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude thepresence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can beimplemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements,and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claimenumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by oneand the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures arerecited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that acombination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

1. A device (120) being remotely controllable by means of a signal(130), the device (120) having a property (140) which defines at leastpartially how the device (120) is remotely controllable, the device(120) comprising: transmitting means (121) for transmitting the property(140) to a remote controller (110) for generating the signal (130) independence on the property (140); and receiving means (111) forreceiving the signal (130).
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the property (140) at least partially defines thesignal (130).
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that:the device (120) comprises processing means (123) for processing thereceived signal in dependence on a code, and in that the property (140)at least partially defines the code.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the device (120) is remotely controllable by meansof a further signal (150) and is arranged to transmit the property (140)in response to receiving the further signal (150).
 5. A controller (110)for remotely controlling a device by generating a signal (130) andtransmitting the signal (130) to the device (120), the controller (110)comprising receiving means (111) for receiving a property (140) of thedevice (120) transmitted by the device (120), the property (140) atleast partially defining how the device (120) is remotely controllable,the controller (110) being arranged to generate the signal (130) independence on the received property (140).
 6. A controller (110) asclaimed in claim 5, characterized in that the controller (110) isarranged to generate and transmit a further signal (150) for commandingthe device (120) to transmit the property (140).
 7. A controller (110)as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the property (140) at leastpartially defines the signal (130).
 8. A controller (110) as claimed inclaim 7, characterized in that the controller (110) is arranged to use acode for generating the signal (130); and in that the property (140) atleast partially defines the code.
 9. A controller (110) as claimed inclaim 6, characterized in that the controller (110) has a control (113)for remotely controlling the remotely controllable device (120); thesignal (130) is generated and transmitted in response to activating thecontrol (113); the controller (110) comprises a display screen (112) fordisplaying the control (113); and the property (140) at least partiallydefines the control (113).
 10. A system (100) comprising: a device (120)being remotely controllable by means of a signal (130), the device (120)having a property (140) which at least partially defines how the device(120) is remotely controllable, the device (120) comprising transmittingmeans (121) for transmitting the property (140), and receiving means(122) for receiving the signal (130); a controller (110) for remotelycontrolling the device (120) by generating and transmitting the signal(130), the controller (110) comprising further receiving means (111) forreceiving the property (140), wherein the controller (110) for remotelycontrolling the device (120) by generating a signal (130) andtransmitting the signal (130) to the device (120) is arranged togenerate the signal (130) in dependence on the received property (140).11. A method of remotely controlling a device (120) by means of a signal(130), the device (120) having a property (140) which at least partiallydefines how the device (120) is remotely controllable, the methodcomprising the steps of: transmitting the property (140) of the device(120); receiving the property (140); and generating the signal (130) independence on the received property (140).
 12. A signal for transmittinga property (140) of a remotely controllable device (120), the signalcomprising the property (140), the property (140) at least partiallydefining how the device (120) is remotely controllable.
 13. A signal(150) for initiating a transmission of a property (140) of a remotelycontrollable device (120), the property (140) at least partiallydefining how the device (120) is remotely controllable.